10 September 2014

I had a productive, half-hour meeting today with my local, federal member, Andrew Wilkie MHR, the independent member for Denison. I am pleased to record that he listened attentively to our proposal for, inter alia, a proper, continuous footpath between Hobart and Launceston, to my hope that much of the appropriate facilities and infrastructure—of paved paths and even avenues and covered walkways, for instance—could be furnished through sponsorship from local busineſses and private citizens and with minimal funding from taxpayers, and to other, related ideas. He expreſsed his general support; he also aſsured me that he will, within the month, write to the Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Tourism, to local councils, and perhaps to the local media, endorsing the general concept of proper footpaths and explaining, for example, how properly planned and marketed walking tours could be a boon to the economy—even with existing pathways.

We shall publish Mr. Wilkie’s submiſsion as soon as we receive our copy.

UPDATE I (18 September): Here is Mr. Wilkie’s letter to Hon. Will Hodgman, Premier of Tasmania and Minister for Tourism:

UPDATE II (5 November): Here is Mr. Hodgman’s reply*:

* note that Mr. Hodgman refers to the Tasmanian Trail as suitable for walking. The Tasmanian Trail is not a path—as is evidenced by its name—and, at times, it is not even a trail; in many places it is quite unsuitable for walking and in some places it is even barely suitable for hardy horse-riders. Furthermore, the trail avoids both Launceston and Hobart.

a general principle:

We hold as a general principle that whithersoever a person may lawfully travel by motor vehicle a person should also be able to travel by foot or wheelchair or other small, personal conveyance just as readily.Pathways—suitable for foot-traffic and wheelchairs—should be provided as a matter of equity besides (or conveniently near) every highway and major public road. Such pathways would provide residents and visitors safe, undemanding and, haply, pleasant walks between Tasmania’s cities and towns, with straightforward acceſs to tourist attractions. It is, surely, ridiculous that people can perambulate easily through national parks on specially constructed, wooden walkways but they cannot travel to those same parks by way of decent footpaths.

other pages:

endorsements:

“I am a supporter.”—Andrew Wilkie MP(Federal member for Denison)

“On behalf of the Council I congratulate your organisation on its commitment to developing a continuous footpath connecting Hobart and Launceston.”—Maree Bricknell(A/General Manager, Northern Midlands Council)

“I appreciate the work that you have undertaken and I wish you the best as this proceſs continues.”—Sen. Eric Abetz(Leader of the Government in the Senate)

sponsor:

mottoes:

καὶ τἀγαθὸν μὲν εὔκτητον . . .—Ἐπίκουρος

Undoubtedly there is an immense amount of pleasure and profit to be gained by flitting along in a car or skimming the earth in a ’plane; but, if you really wish to SEE a country for yourself, there is only one way—walk!—E. T. Emmett, Tasmania by Road and Track (Melbourne, 1952), Preface.

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